3.1.2.2 The Impact of Skill Classification On the Structure and Practice for Skill Learning

Question 1

The Whole Method of Learning

Answer 1

Teaching the skill in its entirety without breaking it down into parts

Question 2

The Part Method

Answer 2

Breaking the skill down into pieces, each are practised separately and then joined together

Question 3

Whole - Part - Whole Method

Answer 3

The whole skill is first attempted. If there are errors those parts of the skill are attempted in isolation before attempting the whole skill again

Question 4

Progressive Part Method

Answer 4

The skill is broken down into 5 parts:
Learn part 1
Learn part 2 and add to part 1
etc

Question 5

Advantages of the Whole Method

Answer 5

1. Good for simple skills
2. Link to cognitive theory as the learner can appreciate the relationship between the sub-routines or parts of the skill and limit the amount of information to process
3. Not time consuming
4. Good for powerful / ballistic skills
5. Suitable for: continuous skills, simple skills and highly organised skills

Question 6

Disadvantages of the Whole Method

Answer 6

1. Technique may be too difficult to learn in one go
2. Low self esteem could lead to repeated failure
3. Potentially dangerous for skills like somersaulting
4. Difficult to correct specific parts

Question 7

Advantages of Progressive Part Method

Answer 7

1. Useful for complex skills because they can be broken down into smaller parts
2. Early success which raises confidence
3. Less information to process
4. Good for teaching hazardous skills, less scary if broken down

Question 8

Disadvantages of Progressive Part Method

Answer 8

1. Limited awareness of what the end project should look like
2. Can be boring for high level performers
3. Takes more time to teach
4. Unsuitable for highly organised skills or skills that are difficult to break down into subroutines